Shirt folding and finishing apparatus



Aug. 9, 1938. J. C. CHEVALIER 2,126,613

\ SHIRT FOLDING AND FINISHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 7, 1936 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

John I: .llheva lien m W W ATTORN EYS.

Aug-I 9 1938- J. c. CHEVALIER I 2, 26,618

SHIRT FOLDING AND FINISHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 7, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet2 jg. El

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22 I I :9 /5f 36' /a 3.2 I 38 32 |Il l lll as 6 J 50 37 H3 3 I 4 {f g] Iy 41 A I INVENTOR.

xi I John Eflhevaher I (1 92 L23 mwws Allg- 1938. .1. c. CHEVALIER I2,126,618-

SHIRT FOLDING AND FINISHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 7, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet3 INVENTOR.

John E. Chevalier ATTO R N EYS.

Patented Aug. 9', 1938 UNITED STATES angers PATENT OFFICE SHIRT FOLDINGAND FINISHING APPARATUS 16 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus adapted for use in thefinishing and folding of new or freshly laundered shirts and the primaryobject of the invention is to provide apparatus of 6 this character suchas will expedite the finishing and folding operation and insure aperfect finish and appearance to the shirt.

In shirt finishing systems now in use by laundries and the like, theshirts, after all major 10 pressing operations pertaining'to shirtfinishing have been accomplished, the shirts are conveyed to a foldingtable where an operator hand finishes such portions of the shirt as maybe necessary and then folds the shirt into the well known fiat form 15for delivery. These shirt finishing systems usually comprise presseswhich iron the collars and cuffs in a fiat condition, separate pressesfor ironing the bosom and back of the shirt, and a collar ironer orshaper for forming the collar into cir- 20 cular formation approximatingthe shape of ones neck, before the shirts are conveyed to the operatorat the folding table. Thus, four separate operations are required on theshirt before delivery to the folding table. In some instances, thecollar 25 ironer or shaper is dispensed with and forming of the collaris done by hand ironing by the operator at the folding table. This handironing of the collar does not provide a perfect formation to thecollar, thus detracting from the finished 30 appearance of the shirt. Inaddition to hand ironing the collar on the folding table, any hand ironfinishing or touching up such as the lower portion of the sleevesadjacent to the cuffs, finishing touches of the yoke, etc., is also doneupon the 35 folding table. These hand finishing operations are donebefore the shirt is placed in position for folding and the operator isrequired to sufficiently iron the yoke and lower sleeve portions so asto remove any dampness therefrom, with the result- 4 ant loss in time.

It is therefore a further and important object of the invention toprovide a combined shirt folding table and collar shaper for use inshirt finishing systems whereby the finishing and folding 45 operationsof the shirts are accomplished with greater efficiency and by a singleoperator.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter embodying a vertically movable collar shaper of improveddesign 50 upon which the collar is ironed and formed to truely conformto the shape of ones neck.

A further object of the invention resides in the arrangement wherebyhand ironing of the yoke of the shirt is dispensed with and thefinishing or 55 touching up of the lower sleeve portions adjacent to thecuffs may be done while the shirt is in position for folding.

A further object resides in the arrangement wherein the collar ironingor shaping member is movable to a substantial height above the surfaceof the table so as to permit forming of the collar thereon and avoidwrinkling the front or bosom of the shirt.

A still further object is to provide apparatus of this character whereinthe upper end portion of the collar shaper when in its lower retractedposition, acts to receive the collar of the shirt and apply an ironingheat to the yoke while the shirt is being folded.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in whichdrawings:-

Figure 1 is a top plan View showing the folding plate or form in raisedposition.

7 Figure 2 is a front elevation with fragmentary portions broken awayand showing the collar shaper or ironer in its lowered or retractedposition.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on the line33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line ll of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of Figure land showing the folding plate in its lowered horizontal position.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the collar shaper shown in Figures 1, 2,3 and 5.

Figure '7 is a section on the line l-'l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a View in side elevation of a modified form of collar shaperor ironer adaptable for use with the folding table.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings in detail and where- 40 in like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the letter A designates a shirt folding table having associatedtherewith a collar shaper or ironer B mounted for vertical movement bythe means C.

The table A embodies a rectangular shaped folding board [0 having itsupper surface provided with the usual padding l l Supporting the foldingboard I0 is a preferably metal frame 92 which may either be formed oftubular stock as shown, or of angle iron. In the example shown, theframe [2 is provided with the corner legs it connected at their upperends by the top framing l4 and at a point intermediate their height bythe horizontal brace members I5. The folding table or board I!) may besecured in any preferred manner to the top framing l4. Adjacent one endof the table, the folding board I0 is provided with an opening l6, and asuitable shield as at I! is extended about the upper end of the openingas a protection for the padding Arranged to be vertically projectedupwardly thru the opening I6 is a collar shaper or ironer B which in thepreferred form is of a shape as shown in Figures 6 and 7. This collarshaper B which is supported in an upright or vertical position by themeans C, is in the form of an elongated hollow-metallic member ofsomewhat frusto-conical formation and arranged with its smaller enduppermost. Referring particularly to Figures 6 and '7 of the drawings,the collar shaper B is of tapering, major segmental shape in crosssection thruout its length, that is, is of slightly more thansemi-circular shape in cross section, providing an upwardly taperingouter surface l8 which uniformly tapers thruout the length of the shaperand a flat side surface l9 having its side edges rounding into thesurface l8 as along the rounded edges 20. The smaller upper end of thecollar shaper is provided with a flat horizontal ironing surface 2|which, when the shaper is in its lowered position as in Figures 2, 3 and5, is disposed substantially flush with the upper surface of the paddingThe larger lower end of the collar shaper is provided with a threadedsocket 22 for securing the shaper to the elevating means C. The collarshaper B is preferably steam heated, the steam entering the chamber ofthe shaper thru the tube 23 and leaving by the return tube 24. Thesetubes 23 and 24 extend thru the bottom of the shaper and are connectedby the flexible steam lines 25 with suitable pipe lines 26.

Referring now to the means C for vertically raising the collar shaper B,the same is preferably fiuid operated and is of such construction as toraise the collar shaper for a substantial distance above the foldingboard In as shown by dotted lines in Figure 2. Suitably supported uponthe frame l2 at one end thereof and closely adjacent to the bottom ofthe frame is a horizontal base plate 26 which may be connected byvertical braces 21 to the brace members l5. Mounted upon the upper sideof this base plate 26, in vertical alignment beneath the opening I6 inthe folding board I0 is a flanged base member 28 having an upwardlyopening sleeve portion 29.

Threaded or otherwise secured at its lower end in the sleeve portion 29is a vertically disposed tubular cylinder 30 having its upper endterminating in a guide sleeve 3| which is rigidly supported by brackets32 secured to two end legs of the table frame. Telescopically fittingwithin the fixed outer cylinder 30 is a second or inner cylinder 33having vertical guided movement in the guide sleeve 3|. This innercylinder 33 has an outside diameter slightly less than the insidediameter of the outer cylinder 30 and at its lower open end has anannular flange to which is secured a sealing ring 34. The upper endportion of the inner cylinder 33 has its inside diameter reducedproviding a guide portion 35 having an external flange as shown inFigure 3. Reciprocably movable in the inner cylinder 33 and havingguided movement in the guide portion 35 is a piston rod 35 provided atits lower end with a sealing cup 31. The upper end of the piston rod 35is threaded into the socket 22 of the collar shaper B whereby the shaperis connected for movement with the piston rod. As clearly shown inFigure 3, a set screw 38 threaded thru the fixed guide sleeve 3| withits inner end extending into a longitudinal slot in the inner cylinder33; and a set screw 39 threaded thru the guide portion 35 of the innercylinder with its inner end extending into a longitudinal slot in thepiston rod 36, serve to prevent relative rotary movement between thecylinders 30 and 33 and the piston rod 36 whereby the collar shaper B isheld against rotation with the flat side surface I!) thereof disposed ina plane parallel to an end edge of the folding board as shown in Figure1.

The elevating means C is preferably operated by air pressure admittedinto the base member 28. For controlling movement of the means C, asuitable form of three-way valve as at 40 is mounted adjacent to, and inthe example shown, directly upon the base member 28 and has its intakeport connected with a suitable source of air supply as thru the line 4|.The outlet port of the valve is connected by the line 42 with the basemember l8 so as to communicate with the chamber of the sleeve portion29. The valve is also provided with a relief port 43 which acts in amanner to be later described.

The control valve 48 is preferably arranged to be foot operated and inthe example shown, a treadle 44 is mounted intermediate its ends uponone end of a treadle shaft 45 suitably journaled upon the base plate 26.The opposite end of the shaft 45 is connected with the rotating valvemember of the valve 40. A spiral spring 46 acts between one end of thetreadle 44 and the base plate 25 and acts to normally return the treadleto a position as shown in Figure 1 closing off communication between theair lines 4| and 42 and venting the line 42 thru the relief port 43.When the treadle 44 is operated, air under pressure is admitted into thelower end of the cylinder 30 and forces the inner cylinder 33 and thepiston rod 36 upwardly and raising the collar shaper B upwardly thru theopening |6 in the folding board Illv When the treadle is released, airfrom the line 4| is shut off and the air in the cylinder 30 is ventedthru the port 43 thus allowing the collar shaper to return to itslowered position,

Referring once again to Figure 3, suitable cushioning springs areprovided for cushioning movement of the movable elements. Downwardmovement of the collar shaper B, piston rod 36 and inner cylinder 33 iscushioned by a coil spring 41 acting between the socket 22 and the upperend of the guide portion 35, and a second coil spring 48 acting betweenthe upper end of the guide sleeve 3| and the annular flange on the guideportion 35. Upward movement of the piston rod 36 is cushioned by a coilspring 49 acting between the lower end of the guide portion 35 and lowerend of the piston rod, while upward movement of the inner cylinder 33 iscushioned by a coil spring 50 acting between the lower end of the guidesleeve 3| and the annular flange at the lower end of the inner cylinder.

Hingedly mounted upon the upper side of the folding table adjacent oneend thereof and as by means of a hinge rod 5| journaled in suitablebrackets 52, is a rectangular-shaped sheet metal folding plate 53 which,when in a lowered horizontal position is adapted to overlie the openingl6 as shown in Figure 5. A means is provided for exerting a pressureupon the folding plate 53, particularly when in its lowered position,and this means in the example shown embodies a crank 54 formedintermediate the ends of the hinge rod 5| and a coil spring 55 havingone end connected to the crank and its other end connected to a bracket56 secured to the folding board. As shown in Figure 5, when the crank 54is swung past a vertical center position, the spring 55 will exert adownward pressure on the folding plate, urging the plate against theflat top end of the collar shaper. When the folding plate is in a raisedposition, the spring 55 acts to yieldably hold the plate in this raisedposition, slightly on. i

of a vertical position with the feet or stops limiting further swingingof the plate. The folding plate may be secured in any preferred mannerto the hinge rod so that the rod will rock with the swinging of theplate.

Secured to the lower end of the collar shaper B is a shield or guard 58for preventing likelihood of the shirt being soiled thru contact withthe piston rod 36 or the cylinder 33 when the shaper is raised. Thisguard 58 is of such length that when the shaper is raised, the lower endof the guard is below the upper surface of the folding table so thatthere is no danger of the shirt being caught on the lower end of theguard and possibly drawn thru the opening it. The guard 58 will alsoprevent the shirt from being caught beneath the lower end of the collarshaper.

Figures 8 and 9 show a slightly modified form of collar shaper or ironerB which is also adaptable for use in connection with the elevating meansC. The shaper B is in the form of a hollow frusto-co-nical shaped metalbody having its outer surface 60 uniformly tapering toward the flatupper end surface 6| of the body.

In use of the apparatus, the operator located at the folding tablereceives the shirts after all of the major pressing operationspertaining to shirt finishing have been accomplished. The operator firstspreads the shirt out upon the folding board and buttons the front pleatand the collar of the shirt. The foot treadle 5 3 is then pressed downfor opening the valve 40 and allowing air under pressure to enter thelower end of the cylinder 30 and raise the heated collar shaper B to itsraised position a substantial distance above the surface of the foldingboard. The operator then places the collar of the shirt over the upperend of the collar shaper with the back portion of the collar across theflat surface it! of the shaper and lowers the collar until the collarcontacts the surface of the shaper. With the fingers, the operator thenslightly oscillates the collar about the shaper and at the same timeexerts a slight downward pressure on the collar. This operation not onlyirons and smooths out any roughness at the inside of the collar but alsoforms or moulds the collar to a shape closely approximating the shape ofthe neck of the wearer. It may here be well to state that the object andadvantages for preferably having the collar shaper movable to asubstantial distance above the folding table to avoid wrinkling thefront or bosom of the shirt while shaping and finishing the collar onthe shaper.

After the collar has been shaped, foot pressure on the treadle 44 isreleased, whereupon the spring 46 shifts the valve 410 to a positionventing the cylinder 30 and allowing the collar shaper to lower bygravity to a position with its upper flat surface flush with the top ofthe folding board. The shirt is then spread out neatly on the table withthe front of the shirt facing down and the collar fitting into theopening id about the upper end of the shaper. When in this position, theyoke of the shirt will be in contact with the flat top surface of theshaper. The metal folding plate 53 is then lowered upon the shirt andyieldably held in this lowered position by the action of the crank 54and spring 55. This yielding pressure of the folding plate not only actsto properly hold the shirt against moving while being folded, but alsopresses the yoke portion upon the flat upper surface of the shaper sothat the yoke is neatly pressed. While the shirt is thus held, theoperator hand irons the lower portion of the sleeves adjacent to thecuffs and then neatly folds the shirt and sleeves over the folding platein the usual manner. For the time while the operator is touching up thelower portion of the sleeves and folding the shirt, the yoke is beingheld against the top surface of the heated shaper so that all moistureor dampness is removed from the yoke. The folding plate may now be swungto its raised position and a suitable holder applied to the shirt forretaining it in its folded condition and after which the finished shirtmay be withdrawn from the plate for delivery.

Changes in detail may be made to the form of invention herein shown anddescribed, without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A shirt folding and finishing apparatus comprising a folding boardprovided with an opening, a collar shaper and ironer vertically movablethrough the opening, and a vertically swinging folding plate adapted tooverlie said opening when the collar shaper and ironer is in a loweredposition.

2. A shirt folding and finishing apparatus comprising a folding board, avertically movable collarshaper and ironer, operating means for thecollar shaper and ironer, and a hinged folding plate adapted to overliethe folding board and cooperate with the upper end of the collar shaperand ironer when the latter is in a lowered position.

3. A shirt folding and finishing apparatus comprising a folding boardprovided with an opening adjacent one end thereof, a collar ironerVertically movable thru said opening and normally disposed below thefolding board, elevating means for raising the ironer above the board,and a swinging folding plate adapted to overlie said opening and pressthe yoke of a shirt upon the upper end of the ironer during folding ofthe shirt.

4. A shirt folding and finishing apparatus comprising a folding boardprovided with an opening, a collar ironer movable upwardly thru theopening and normally disposed with its top surface disposed fiush withthe upper surface of th folding board, means for raising the ironer to aposition above the folding board, a hinged folding plate movable to ashirt folding position overlying said opening, and means for yieldablyurging the folding plate against the upper surface of the folding boardwhen the plate is swung downwardly.

5. A shirt folding and finishing apparatus comprising a folding boardprovided with an opening, a collar ironer vertically movable upwardlythru the opening, fluid pressure means for elevating the ironer, and ahinged folding plate movable to overlie said opening.

6. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus, a folding board providedwith an opening, a collar ironer vertically movable upwardly thru saidopening and normally disposed below the board with its upper end flushwith the upper surface of the folding board, and means for raising theironer to a substantial height above the folding board.

'7. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus, a folding board providedwith an opening, a collar ironer vertically movable upwardly thru saidopening and normally disposed below the board with its upper end flushwith the upper surface of the folding board, telescoping elevating meansfor raising the ironer to a position with its lower end spaced asubstantial distance above the folding board, and a guard depending fromthe lower end of the ironer and adapted to have its lower end disposedin said opening when the ironer is raised.

8. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus, a folding board having anopening adjacent one end. thereof, fluid pressure operated elevatingmeans below the folding board embodying a piston rod vertically aligningwith said opening, a collar ironer mounted upon the piston rod andmovable upwardly thru the opening, and control means for the elevatingmeans.

9. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus, a

, folding board provided with an opening, a collar ironer verticallymovable thru the opening, and fluid pressure operated elevating meansfor the ironer embodying a fixed outer cylinder, an inner cylindertelescopically fitting in the outer cylinder and a piston rodtelescopically fitting in the inner cylinder, means securing the ironerto the upper end of the piston rod, and control means for the elevatingmeans.

10. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus,

1 a folding board provided with an opening, fluid of the folding boardwhen the ironer is in a lowered position, means for elevating theironer, and a folding plate hinged to the folding board for overlyingsaid opening when the plate is in a lowered position,

12. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus, a folding board havingan opening, an ironer vertically movable thru said opening and having anironing surface at its upper end, elevating means for the ironer andsupporting the ironer with said ironing surface flush with the uppersurface of the folding board when the ironer is in a lowered position, afolding plate hinged to the folding board and movable to a positionoverlying said opening, and means yieldably retaining the folding platein either of its limits of swinging movement.

13. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus, a folding board providedwith an opening, an ironer vertically movable in said opening having anouter surface of segmental shape in cross section uniformly taperingtoward its upper end and a flat top surface, elevating means normallysupporting the ironer with its fiat top surface flush with the topsurface of the folding board, and a hinged folding plate movable to aposition in superposed relation to the fiat top surface of the ironerwhen the latter is in a lowered position.

14. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus,

a folding board provided with an opening, an 1 ironer in said openinghaving a flat top surface, a hinged folding plate cooperating with saidflat top surface, and means yieldably urging the folding plate againstsaid surface.

15. In a shirt folding and finishing apparatus, a folding board providedwith an opening, an ironer vertically movable thru said opening andbeing of major segmental shape in cross section and diminishing in crosssection toward its upper end, and elevating means for the ironer.

16. A shirt folding and finishing apparatus comprising a folding boardprovided with an aperture extending entirely thru said board, and acollar shaper and ironer vertically movable thru said aperture.

JOHN COLLINS CHEVALIER.

